The Fight for Media Power
In the abstract, we all know that controlling media and controlling politics go hand in hand. That's the lesson of history.
But as we see it play out in front of our faces in increasingly extreme ways, it's clear that the history lesson isn't enough.
This month, my thoughts on how we win focus on both the stakes and strategy for taking on the right wing's media consolidation. What can we do about it, how do we fight back, how do we win?
A few weeks ago, I was in DC for a CBC Foundation panel. That night, a few friends and I tried to watch Jimmy Kimmel’s first episode back on air after being suspended by Disney.
It turned out to be impossible. The ABC affiliate in DC — owned by the conservative conglomerate Sinclair — was refusing to air it. Hulu didn’t work either. The only solution was a VPN (or "virtual private network", which allows you to hide your location while using the internet.)
It reminded me of my trip to China in 2012, where social media, news sites, and even dating apps were blocked. There, too, access depended on privilege. If you had the means or the know-how, you could get around censorship. If not, you were cut off (and often didn’t even know it.)
That night in DC felt like a softer echo of the same thing. It had all the elements of what I saw in China - there was content restricted by the government, access denied by corporate conglomerates, and, of course, privilege determining who gets through.
The Authoritarian Pattern
The consolidation of political power has always required the consolidation of media power. It’s one of the first tenets of authoritarianism, and it’s happening here in America. The consequences are on the people who let Musk, Zuckerberg, Ellison, Murdoch and others get away with it. But failing to see it and stop it? That’s on us.
We live in an era of contradiction. Yes, on one hand, more people than ever feel empowered to reach millions without permission. But on the other hand, fewer corporations control the platforms that decide which voices are actually heard. Many of those corporations are aligning with MAGA to protect their profits and perks. The question now is: how do we fight back?
How we fight back: the difference between presence and power
In my work at GLAAD and Color Of Change, I learned that the first step in fighting media consolidation is knowing who can be influenced and who can’t. Whether we’re canceling a Disney+ subscription or launching a multi-million-dollar campaign, we need to know the difference.
It’s like politics: believing we can move Chuck Schumer leads to strategies that can win. Believing we can move Marjorie Taylor Greene guarantees we lose. The same is true in media.
We need to know where we can intervene — through customers, shareholders, advertisers, judges, and community partners — and where we’ll simply hit a wall.
(This is the distinction between presence and power, and is at the core of my upcoming book, From Presence to Power, out next spring.)
How We’ve Won Before
I remember watching Ellen’s coming-out episode in 1997. Many affiliates refused to air it. The workaround was a gay bar with satellite TV (a different kind of VPN!) Those who could go gathered to witness a cultural moment that represented real progress. Those who couldn’t were left out.
That moment happened because of infrastructure: advocacy, consumer activism, and inside-game power. When Kimmel was suspended, we mobilized the same kind of infrastructure across Hollywood and beyond. But the number of corporations we can influence is shrinking fast.
That’s why media activism has to become a habit, rather than a one-off.
Our challenge today is twofold:
- Give people ways to fight for the media they need: the outlets and stories that build our collective power.
- Invest in infrastructure that disrupts right-wing consolidation while expanding our capacity to influence the corporations still within reach.
Black Media's Role
I’ll be advising The Root as it reboots under new owner Ashley Allison. Ownership isn’t everything, but it’s essential. Black history in America has always been a story of creating independent platforms—of building our own systems for communication and power. Every major step forward has required it.
Owning media on our terms isn’t easy, but it’s possible. I’ve developed a four-part framework for understanding where we go wrong with these investments and how to get them right.
If you’re working in this space or considering big media investments, reach out. I’d love to walk you through it.
Please forward this newsletter to anyone who might find it useful - or sign up here.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas.
— Rashad
